North Carolina NAACP To Lead Historic Thousands On Jones Street Rally

December 31, 1969

RALEIGH, NC – In a call for improvements in education, the
economy and job creation, on February 27, the North Carolina NAACP
State Conference will lead the Fourth Annual “Historic Thousands on
Jones Street” People’s Assembly. The Assembly will commence at 9:30
at Shaw University’s Estey Hall. This year’s HK on J Assembly will
focus on stopping the re-segregation of public schools in Raleigh
and other school districts, while demanding economic investment and
good jobs for communities and families in North Carolina devastated
by the recession. NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous
will also address the assembly via audio message.

?The NAACP?s continued battle for good jobs, good schools and a
better tomorrow stems from the fact that the lack of these
resources is often the barrier depriving our children of a
legitimate opportunity to succeed,? said Jealous. ?We must continue
to hold local, state, and federal government accountable for
providing adequate jobs, educational resources, affordable health
care, and safe communities ? all of which are fundamental aspects
of human rights.?

The North Carolina NAACP State Conference has challenged the
recent re-segregation of public schools in the Raleigh area.
According to NC NAACP State President Rev. Dr. William J. Barber
II, the re-organization of the school districts by ?neighborhood
schools? was a calculated move on the part of national and local
politicians, who seek to divide Blacks and Whites in the South who
have united to advocate for common causes ? particularly education,
jobs, and health care.

?The segregation of schools by socioeconomic status inevitably
undermines our goal of high-quality experienced teachers for all
students,? said Barber. ?By reducing the interaction between
working-class Blacks and Whites, the re-segregation of schools
stands to curtail the progress made by these groups to band
together and focus on commonalities which affect all North
Carolinians.?

The North Carolina State Conference will also report on the
Coalition's request for Gov. Bev Perdue to sponsor a grassroots N.C
Jobs Summit and call a Special Emergency Session of the General
Assembly on Jobs and the Implementation of the Economic Stimulus
Recovery Funds.

?We all need to hear first-hand the cries of hunger and
hopelessness we hear every day,? Barber told Gov. Perdue. ?We must
work together to address the issues of poverty, unlivable wages,
and unemployment. Over 20% of African-Americans in N.C. are
unemployed and need jobs today.?

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest
civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States
and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their
communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal
opportunity in the public and private sectors.